Feank ashtob-



(No Model.)

F. ASHTON SUPPORT FOR PANTALOONS.

Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

Ilnrrn STATES PATENT Grrrcn.

FRANK ASHTON, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SUPPORT FOR PANTALOONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,899, dated August 11, 1885.

Application filed January 31, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK ASHTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Supporting Pantaloons, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to obtain a more easy and durable support to pantaloons than that now in use by buttons and suspenders. I accomplish it by the devices shown and described in the accompanying drawings and specification.

Figure 1 represents a man standing with the suspenders and band or hoop d in place, and attached to the pantaloons. Fig. 2 shows the hoop d with spirals twined in it to give additional spring. Fig. 3 shows the band (I made of spring sheet metal with hinge-joints. Fig. 4 shows the buckle e for attaching the hoop d to the pantaloons.

Similar letters refer to similar parts.

The suspenders are attached to the hoop d at two points, one on each side,under the arms, thus forming a pivotal support on which the front and back of the pants may tilt up and down wit-h perfect ease to the wearer, thus avoiding the strain on the back of the pants and buttons that always occurs in bending forward or sitting down with the present way of fastening. The hoopd is also attached to the pants by the buckle e or the loops h, as shown and described, thus forming a complete invention for the purpose specified.

In Fig. 1, a a represent Suspender-webbing long enough to reach below the arm-pits; b b b, sliding buckles commonly used on suspenders; c c, spring-wire, bent as shown, passing under the arm and connecting the ends of a by buckles b hooking into the eyes turned on the ends of c. A cord may be used in the place of 0, or the web may come together under the arm; but I prefer the spring-wire, as

it keeps the ends of the suspenders from pressing against and chafing the arms; or, instead of the wire 0 and web a, I may make the web a long enough to fasten to the hoop d in two places, a little before and behind the outside (No model.)

metal, as in Fig. 3. e is a combined buckle and hook for connecting the hoop d to the waistband of the pants 9. It can be easily taken off, moved forward or back, or to another pair of pants. h h are loops of cloth or other suitable material, stitched to the pants for holding the hoop (Z in place, same as the hook e. The rings 0 o 0 are put on the hoop d to keep the hook b on the lower end of the suspender from slipping too far forward or back. The suspenders c a are joined at the back by the web 2'.

Fig. 4c shows combined hook and buckle e. 1 shows side view. 2 shows front view. It is made of two pieces, on and n. m is a plate of sheet metal, with a hook turned on the upper end to hook on the hoop (Z, and two holes drilled through it for the hooks made on the ends of the wire a to pass through; a, springwire forming a loop on the front ofm, as shown in Fig. 4, the two ends going through the holes in m, and forming hooks on then nder side, as shown in 1, Fig. 4.

To attach the buckle to the pants, raise the loop a to the position shown by the dotted lines. Then force the two hooks on the under side of at through the waistband of the pants. Then press the loop a back to place, where it is held by a catch on the lower end of m.

The buckle e is applied to the fiat hoop d by making two holes at the proper distance apart for the wire a, Fig. 4, to pass through, forming the hooks on the inside and the loop on the outside, the hoop taking the place of the plate m, Fig. 4.

I am aware that hoops and bands, open and closed, and with hinge-joints, are as old as tubs and barrels, and I only claim them in the combination.

What I claim as my invention, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the webs a a, the

buckles I), and the wire 0, in combination with and attached to the band d, as a means of supporting pantaioons, as shown and set forth.

2. In combination with the waistband of a to the waistband, as shown and set forth.

5 pair of pantaloons, the springband (I, at- FRANK ASHTON.

tached thereto, and provided with stops 0 for Vitnesses: limiting the engagement of the suspender- Z. TAYLOR SI-IOBER, hooks, as set forth. SCOTT SHOBER.

3. In combination with the waistband of a pair of pantaloons, the buckle e, and the loops [0 h, as a means of attaching the spring-band d 

